A former Canadian hockey Olympian from Blenheim thinks NHL'ers may still go to the 2018 Olympics in South Korea.
Todd Warriner says there's lots of time to resolve the issue and doesn't think it's over.
Todd Warriner (left) poses for picture with Bobby Orr. (Photo courtesy of Todd Warriner)
One Monday, the NHL announced its players would not be attending the Olympics in 2018, because the majority of clubs don't want to disrupt the 2017-2018 season.
However, Warriner says he doesn't think that's "entirely etched in stone."
"I think this is perhaps just part of the negotiations that need to happen. The schedule for the NHL for the next season doesn't come out, I think, until June or July. For them to make that statement this early is a little unusual I think. So, I'm not sure we've heard the end of this," says Warriner.
The NHL Players' Association says the NHL is missing the boat.
Warriner has mixed feelings about the announcement because it's an opportunity for other players to shine, but as a fan, he wants to see the best compete.
"It would be similar to the Spengler Cup team that Canada puts in the Christmas tournament every year and it's players from Europe but you'd have to identify and work with the club teams all over Europe, because like the ownership in the NHL, they're taking a risk allowing their players to go to the event as well," he says.
Warriner says there's plenty of time to resolve the issue because NHL players, specially the young ones, would benefit from the experience.
"The younger players who have not had the experience, the McDavid's and the Matthews that are emerging on the scene, they've played in world cups but the Olympic experience is a unique one. So, I think it's good for players to do it whether they're elite NHL players or players from the American League or Europe," Warriner says.